Being overqualified for a job is a common problem, causing job rejection that always feels a little bit more tricky than other rejection types. You’ve made so much effort to be hirable, your skills now mean you’re un-hirable in many jobs. It just doesn’t seem fair, does it?
Don’t worry, being overqualified doesn’t have to be a hindrance when you’re trying to get hired. Let’s take a look at this common problem and some practical solutions so that it doesn’t stop you from getting that all-important job offer:
You would think that having lots of experience and skills would be fantastic for any employer. However, it can, unfortunately, be off-putting for employers for various reasons including:
They could worry they will put all their resources into training you and supporting you only for you to move on to the job you 'really' want. Essentially, they fear your qualifications mean their job is only a stopgap.
If the job predominantly sees people who have just left school as the main workforce and you have years of experience and qualifications, the worry may be that you won’t connect with the rest of the team. This can be overcome, as this article about bridging the generational gap in the workplace demonstrates. However, the worry of an employer could be too fleeting to actively allow you to address the worry and put your mind at rest.
It could be a concern that you will struggle being managed by a team that is younger than you, if you are older and highly qualified. It could also be a worry that the manager there at the moment will feel threatened by you.
Because your qualifications and experience suggest a higher pay bracket the company may be concerned you won’t accept the salary on offer for long. They may worry you will ask for a pay rise quickly or be unwilling to deal with pay cuts.
Employers can worry overqualified candidates won’t do the ‘grunt work’ associated with the job and will feel it is beneath them, only wanting to focus on the most ‘important’ jobs.
With all of those qualifications, could you get bored of the job? Will it challenge you? Employers may feel there simply isn’t enough there to keep you connected to your position.
Sometimes an employer is looking for people with certain qualifications or skills and you just don’t tick the boxes. So, you could have lots of qualifications on paper but you don’t have enough experience, so you’re overqualified in one way but not another. They might actively want people with lower skill sets to train and give development opportunities to, and again you don’t meet the criteria.
Of course, a lot of the above reasons are down to assumptions that are made about you. These assumptions are problematic most often when you don’t have the chance to set the employer straight.
The good news is that there are lots of ways to get around the problem of being overqualified for a job. Here’s how to overcome this common issue:
In your cover letter, you can include any information you want, which leaves lots of room to prevent those assumptions mentioned above. Explain your reasons for wanting the job such as; wanting a change, needing to start in a new industry, wanting to boost other types of skills - address the negative assumptions before they have been made.
Whereas we would usually discuss the skills we do have, when you are overqualified you need to be comfortable discussing what you still have to learn. It helps show that you’ve plenty to gain from this position.
Some employers simply won’t hire applicants who are qualified because they want to build up somebody without experience. Although you can try to apply, you’re wasting your efforts. Instead, focus on employers you know will at least consider you for hire.
In the interview, it is important to let them know you understand that your pay connects to the job at hand, not your worth to another employer or job position.
Try to remain humble but confident in the interview so you don’t come across as though the job is too good for you. If you seem like you think the job is beneath you, you’ll struggle to get hired because excited, enthusiastic candidates who appreciate the opportunity will be much more attractive to the employer. You can do this with what you say, and your body language. Here are some handy tips on impressing employers with your body language in person, and via video.
It can be a good idea to explain how your experience and skills can benefit the employer. So, whilst you demonstrate how the job there benefits you, you can also explain how what you can do benefits them and can help their business grow. According to a recent Forbes article the top skills employers are looking for in 2021 are:
You can read more about what each of these skills involves, and hopefully understand how you can then ensure you thread them into your interview.
It can be such a kicker getting rejected from jobs because you have too much experience, or too many skills. The great news is that you can expect the common assumptions we mentioned above and tailor your cover letter and interview responses accordingly. Hopefully, the right employer will see exactly how fantastic you are and give you a chance to start this next step in your career.
